John Riggins

What if I told you the New York Jets would draft a player who would be considered one of the most ferocious running backs in NFL history, rush for over 11,000 yards, become Super Bowl MVP and a 1st Team All-Pro?

The only issue was, he’d do the majority of this with the Washington Redskins. 

John Riggins was about as unique of a player you could ever watch play the game — a true “iron man” of the sport who would conquer feats over the age of 30 that players 10 years younger have only dreamt of.

Riggins was drafted with the sixth pick in the 1971 NFL Draft out of the University of Kansas. The Jayhawk rushed for a mind-boggling 333 yards against the New England Patriots, in only his second year in the league. He became the first 1,000-yard rusher in Jets history.

“The Diesel” would depart the Jets after just four short years, joining the Washington Redskins in 1976, who at the time, gave him one of the most lucrative deals in the league. In his 10 years with the Redskins, his accomplishments and feats would earn him a spot on the NFL 1980’s All-Decade Team.

Riggins burst on the scene with Jets and was probably worth the contract he demanded when he left the Jets in 1976. It’s unfortunate that the Jets fan base only had a short window of an otherwise remarkable career.

This one hurts.